Automatic lock.



R. N. PARKER & H. A. SMITH.

7 AUTOMATIC LOCK. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24.]916.

1,220,448. Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

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ROBERT N. PARKER AND HENRY A. SMITH, 0F ODEM, TEXAS; SAID SMITH ASSIGNOR T0 G. G. WILLIS, 0F ODEM, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC LOCK.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that we, ROBERT N. PARKER and HENRY A. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Odem, in the county of San Patricio and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an automatic lock, designed to be used for securing gates and other-"like closures in closed position.

The object of the invention is to provide a lock of the character described which, when the gate is closed, will automatically lock the same in closed position.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a gate equipped with the form of lock described,

- Fig. 2 is a side view ofthe gate post showing the lock in section,

Fig. 3 is a front view of said gate post and lock,

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof, and

Fig. 5 is a detail of the lock pin.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures the numeral 1 refers to the gate and the numerals 2 and 3 to the gate'posts, to the former of which the gate is hinged. To the free side of the gate is secured the bar 4 which projects out beyond the gate and secured to the front side of the post 3 is a casting having the outwardly projecting fingers 5 and 6, which are spaced apart and between which the bar a rests when the gate is closed. The finger 5 is provided with a casing 7 said casing and the fingers 5 and 6 being provided with vertically alined orifices to receive the lock pin 8. Within the casing and surrounding said pin is the coil spring 9 whose upper end rests against the Specification of Letters Patent. Pamnm d M 27 91 7 Application filed March 24, 1916.

Serial No. 86,330.

casing and whose lower end presses against opposing studs 10, 1O, fixed to and projectng out from said pin. A trigger 11 is pro vided which is pivoted to one side of the casing and whose upper end is bent over at right angles above the casing, its free end resting against the pin 8, and whose lower end is formed so as to engage behind the bar a when the gate is closed, said latch resting between the trigger and pin when in this position, as shown in Figs. :2 and 3. l/Vhen it is desired to unlock the gate and open the same, the pin is manually lifted, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 until its lower end clears the bar and the gate may then be swung open. lVhen the pin is lifted to this position, the upper end of the trigger 11 will drop into the notch 12 in the adjacent side of the pin and will secure the pin in elevated position so as to permit the bar to pass between the fingers 5 and 6 and contact against the lower end of the trigger when the gate is again closed and the bar so contacting with the trigger will release its upper end from said notch and the pressure of the spring 9 will immediately force he pin 8 downwardly in front of the bar and lock the gate in closed position.

lVhat we claim is:

A look for a closure including a projecting bar, a pair of projections spacedv one above the other and between which the projecting bar rests when the closure is in closed position, the upper of said projections being provided with a bearing and the other with a recess alined with the bearing, a lock pin normally engaging with said bar and having a notch in one side thereof, said pin being slidable in said bearing, a resilient 1nember operating against said pin and normally causing the free end thereof to project into said recess whereby the bar is held locked between said projections, a trigger pivoted to one of said projections, one end of which is overturned and engages in said notch when the pin is withdrawn from engagement with the bar to hold the same withdrawn, and the other end of which extends between said projections and is actuated by said bar when it passes to closed position between the names to this specification in the presence of projections whereby said trigger is disentwo subscribing witnesses. gaged from said notch and the pin is re- ROBERT N. PARKER. leased to the operation of said resilient mem- HENRY A. SMITH. 5 her to be projected in front of said bar to Witnesses: V

secure it in closed position. Y W. E. SCOTT, 7

In testimony whereof we have signed our J. A. MATTHEWS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

